Europa Space Station typically catered to the organised and courteous travelers of the Jupiter Alliance. However, today marked an exception.
The main hubbub arose from a boisterous gang of Alpha soldiers proudly adorned in their gleaming Solar Union uniforms, complete with bronze sun insignias. Their potent pheromones compelled bystanders to keep a respectful distance. These soldiers, under the command of Granley Shaw, were on Europa for a treaty signing and joint military exercises. Their initial plan was a leisurely return to Mars Base in three days, but for some unknown reason, their commander had abruptly ordered an early return this morning.
Suddenly, a shrill security alarm pierced the air, drawing the attention of everyone nearby, especially those waiting in line for the Venus shuttle.
In this commotion stood a young woman with short black hair, her fair complexion giving her an almost anemic appearance. She wore black-framed glasses and dressed modestly, seemingly aiming to keep a low profile. However, her facial features were remarkably exquisite. Behind her thick glasses, one eye shone with captivating blue, while the other dazzled with warm hazel. It was an enchanting sight, a peculiar legacy of Earth's post-nuclear era.
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Inadvertently, she triggered the alarm, and her face contorted with a mixture of panic, confusion, and bewilderment as she instinctively retreated a few steps from the security checkpoint.
Several security robots quickly encircled her, forming an intimidating barrier. A robotic voice, cold and mechanical, announced, "Greetings, passenger. The information you provided is invalid. Please provide your ticket purchase details."
The woman hesitated briefly before placing her palm on the fingerprint scanner and softly saying, "I'm Azalea Everest, 25 years old, a female Beta, a citizen of Europa, traveling on a round trip to Venus. My ticket number is EV****9876, and I'm the only passenger."
The security robot initiated a database search and then replied, "Beep—Citizen Azalea Everest's identity has been deactivated. Inter-planetary flight is not available."
Realizing that something was amiss, Azalea muttered under her breath. She then regained her composure and declared, "I request to resubmit my information. I'm Azalea Everest, 29 years old, a female Omega, and I'm a Solar Union resident."
After an extended search, the robot responded, "Beep—Criminal Azalea Everest is deceased, with a time of death ten years ago. Inter-planetary travel is not available."
"Come on. Damn it!" The woman clenched her fists, her frustration evident.
###
Not far off, an Alpha soldier noticed her and nudged his comrade, whispering, "Hey, check out that girl over there. She's pretty cute. Think she's an Omega or just a Beta?"
His buddy glanced in her direction and let out a low whistle, "I'd say Beta. Word is, on the Jupiter Alliance side, they aren't too keen on genetic modifications, so nearly 99.99% of their population is still Beta. Besides, I haven't picked up any Omega pheromones since we got here."
The Beta woman, surrounded by robots, appeared visibly anxious, pacing nervously. Her backpack held a pendant shaped like a miniature planet, swaying with each of her steps.
The soldier closest to her deliberately took a sniff of the air and chuckled, "You might be right... but I swear I caught a hint of something, maybe... she's in the middle of transitioning? Heh, I'm gonna grab her contact info~"
Hearing this, the other Alpha soldiers joined in sniffing the air, but all they could smell were the Alpha pheromones of their own group. They ribbed him, "Hey, buddy, you sure your nose isn't on the fritz? Going gaga over an Omega? After we get back to Mars, I'm taking you out to meet some girls."
Disregarding his comrades' playful jabs, the soldier left the formation and headed toward the girl.
"Look out for the boss!" someone teased.
Turning around, he offered a grateful salute, his expression shifting rapidly from a friendly grin to sheer panic. With a swift motion, he transformed the casual salute into a solemn, military one.
"Commander!"
The other soldiers instantly fell into a hushed silence, their hearts racing with a mix of surprise and tension.
From the rear, an undeniable presence, carrying the unmistakable fragrance of the White Birch Tree, filled the air. It was a pheromone aura unique to the primal Alpha, signaling the arrival of the Solar Union's highest-ranking commander, Granley Shaw, in silent eloquence.
His commanding voice resonated, its authority beyond question: "Back in formation, soldier!"
"Yes, Commander!" The stray soldier quickly snapped back into place among his comrades.
All the soldiers stood in orderly formation, watching as the formidable Alpha officer, tall and imposing, advanced with resolute strides. His demeanor exuded the confidence and strength of a revered leader, and his uniform remained impeccably pressed, its golden insignia shining brilliantly.
"Commander!" Every soldier saluted smartly in his direction.
Granley Shaw promptly returned the salutes, offering them a crisp, "Good morning, soldiers." Without delay, he navigated purposefully through the ranks of troops, heading directly for the young and charming beta girl surrounded by security robots.
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In just a few strides, Shaw reached Azalea, his deep, night-like eyes towering over her. His voice, calm and gentle, flowed like a smooth stream. "I told you to wait patiently, didn't I? I promised to come for you."
As Azalea heard his voice, recognition washed over her after a momentary pause. She abandoned formalities and went straight to the point, her suppressed anger evident. "What have you done to my Europa identity?"
Sensing her agitation, Shaw raised an eyebrow with a hint of amusement and explained calmly, "Well, Darling, you don't truly belong here. You're a part of the Solar Union, and since we're on our way back, I took the liberty of handling the necessary paperwork."
He finished speaking and took Azalea's delicate wrist, steering her toward the security checkpoint for the Mars flight.
"Wait... you haven't returned my Union identity either! And even if I had it, I'm not going to Mars with you! I'm heading for Venus." Azalea resisted Shaw's efforts, struggling to free her wrist, but his alpha strength rendered her resistance futile.
Granley Shaw had anticipated this and came to a halt, speaking with unwavering patience. "Look, young lady, you're traveling with me, and we're going to Mars first. We'll sort out your identity matters there, and then I'll take you to Venus. Understand?"
Azalea knew this tone all too well. Beneath Granley's seemingly gentle demeanor was a simmering undercurrent of anger, and he wouldn't accept any refusal. She grew a bit apprehensive and didn't dare to reject outright, as if weighing the offer. Eventually, she sighed in resignation, "Can I refuse?"
Shaw smiled, a rare sight indeed, and replied, "Unfortunately, that's not an option."
The gentle tone from Commander Shaw left his Alpha soldiers in utter astonishment. After all, within the military, he was known for his absolute zero-degree coldness. They couldn't help but be intrigued by the young lady named Azalea.
Recalling his nearby soldiers, the Commander's gaze shifted from gentle to icy in a flash. "Start boarding."
"Yes, Commander!"
The soldiers acknowledged their orders, saluted, and dispersed promptly.
###
Azalea found herself aboard the most advanced fifth-generation spacecraft, accompanied by Granley Shaw. Thanks to Granley's status as a Union Commander, she enjoyed the privilege of a complimentary VIP cabin.
However, this stroke of fortune was short-lived.
That dictator-like, insufferable Granley Shaw, pretending to help with her luggage, swiftly snatched her backpack away. Then, using customs inspection as an excuse, he meticulously rummaged through her belongings and disposed of the suppressants she had cleverly hidden in her bag.
Azalea seethed with anger; her teeth clenched. "Granley Shaw, damn you!"
In response, Commander Shaw grinned and commented, "Perhaps you're unaware, but I'm saving you from trouble. Carrying or using pheromone suppressants without a doctor's prescription is a serious offense in the Solar Union. Besides, you're a beta now, aren't you? Betas don't need these suppressants anyway. Or perhaps you'd like to become an Omega?"
His tone was incredibly convincing and innocent, his voice gentle and seductive, and his deep, starry eyes sparkled.
If this were the Azalea from ten years ago, hearing such words would have undoubtedly ensnared her in the enchantment of those cosmic eyes. But the Azalea of today merely mustered a forced smile, averting her gaze as if she hadn't heard a single word.
They made their way to the VIP cabin located at the front of the spacecraft, offering an unparalleled view of Jupiter.
Then amid the resounding roar of the engines, the spacecraft departed from the Europa Space Station, embarking on its journey to Mars. Against the pitch-black canvas of the night sky, the engines left behind long, azure trails, resembling a solitary and meandering specter.
Granley Shaw had already enjoyed the magnificent view on his way here, so he promptly took a seat at the table and immersed himself in work. On the other hand, for Azalea, this marked her first venture outside the confines of Europa's subterranean human habitat since her rebirth. She had never before witnessed the moon from beyond the colossal structure concealed beneath Europa's thick icy surface. Her curiosity was boundless. She stood beside the enormous panoramic window, her gaze fixed on the outside, and couldn't resist reaching out to touch the white Europa on the glass – It was nestled far from the Sun, lay shrouded in an abundance of ice, making it the most pristine and luminous treasure in the entire solar system.
As Europa in the window shrank, Azalea’s memory of another Europa from her childhood became vivid. She recalled nights when she and Mitori gazed at the stars through telescopes.
During one such moment, they talked about their favourite planets. Azalea loved Sedna for its resemblance to a giant, juicy bayberry floating in space. Mitori, in contrast, adored Europa, fondly calling it the “pearl of the solar system.”
“Did you know,” Azalea began, “that in ancient Earth myths, they believed pearls were the crystallised tears of mermaids from the deep sea?”
Mitori’s eyes dimmed. “Tears? I guess the poor mermaid must have been terribly sad when she created Europa.”
Seeing Mitori’s melancholy, Azalea felt guilty. But then Mitori’s eyes brightened. “You know how we can make her happy, Azalea? We’ll let her eat Sedna, the bayberry!”
This absurd proposal left Azalea momentarily speechless, but when she realized Mitori was joking, and they both burst into laughter…
Suddenly, she felt a gentle touch tucking a stray wisp of her hair behind her ear. It was Granley Shaw, his approach as silent as a whisper. subtle fragrance of pheromones hung in the air around him, reminiscent of white birch trees and the earthy aroma of mushrooms in the forest.
"What's on your mind?" he inquired.
Azalea replied, "Oh, nothing... just lost in thought."
"Are you still upset? I messed up last night..."
This unexpected conversation rekindled memories of the previous night. She could vividly recall the sting of her hand striking his face, and a sudden wave of guilt washed over her. Nevertheless, she mustered a smile and said, "No, I'm not upset."
He visibly relaxed, wearing a warm and tender smile as he reached for Azalea's delicate hand. With gentle grace, he pressed his lips to the back of her hand. "Azalea Everest, when we return to the Union, would you do me the honor of becoming your alpha?"
His sudden and heartfelt confession of love caught her by surprise.
Panicked, she instinctively attempted to withdraw her hand, but his grasp remained steadfast.
Azalea ceased her resistance, allowing herself to be embraced by his strong, protective arms.
"I'm sorry for not being there for you sooner," he whispered, his voice warm against her ear.
As she inhaled the familiar scent of the white birch forest, she tenderly stroked his back. "You don't need to keep apologizing. To be honest, I've forgotten much about what happened ten years ago or why we didn't end up together. Maybe you broke my heart back then?"
Granley's body stiffened. His arms tightened their hold around her, as if he feared she might slip away.
Yet Azalea remained calm and gentle. "But even if you did, I think I've forgiven you already. I still love you... deeply. I just... I want to be sure that I'm not rushing into any decisions. You know the saying, 'fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me'?"
The alpha chuckled with a touch of clever humor. "Then let's make sure the fool doesn't know how to count."
Azalea sighed, "Fine..."